Pakistan has released 17 former Guantanamo Bay detainees who had been freed from U.S. custody nine months ago and detained for further investigation on their return to Pakistan.

The released men are part of a group of 35 Pakistani detainees who were cleared by U.S. authorities last September.

A religious affairs adviser for the government in Punjab province says the men were finally released today after they promised not to take part in militant activities.

Hundreds of Pakistanis went to Afghanistan to fight alongside the Taleban militia against the United States. After the Taleban regime was ousted in late 2001, many Pakistanis were jailed in Afghanistan, and some were sent to Guantanamo.